Students Hold Research Celebration Day, Bring Doctor Day to a Local Elementary School and More

Ishna Sharma Named UNTHSC-TCOM’s 2023 Researcher of the Year

Driven by a passion for research, the University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC-TCOM) has named fourth-year student Ishna Sharma its 2023 Researcher of the Year. After a rigorous selection process, Sharma was selected as the winner and will represent UNTHSC-TCOM at Educating Leaders 2023.

“It was a pleasant surprise to have been nominated and selected as Researcher of the Year,” Sharma said. “I am thrilled to represent UNTHSC-TCOM at the national AACOM conference, where I hope to showcase how UNTHSC-TCOM and the osteopathic profession support its students in research.” Read more about Sharma and her research.

VCOM-Virginia Students Train Others to Use Narcan 

Photo (left to right): Carilion Clinic Pharmacist Charles Tarasidis with VCOM-Virginia students Elizabeth Moomaw, Ishan Perera and Tullia Johnston.

Drug overdoses are the leading cause of unnatural death in Virginia, with opioids driving that grim statistic. The best tool physicians have to reverse opioid overdoses is Naloxone, which can be found under the brand name Narcan. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) students have taken the initiative to train themselves and their classmates in the use of Naloxone. On Monday, February 20, three second-year students paid that training forward. With help from a pharmacist, Charles Tarasidis, from the Carilion Clinicthey offered free Narcan training to a group of standardized patients in the College’s Sim Center. View more photos from the event and read more stories like this on  VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.

VCOM-Carolinas’ Annual Research Day 

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) held its 9th annual Research Recognition Day on Friday, February 10. The keynote address was given by Karin Peterson, PhD, of the National Institutes of Health. This year's Student Researcher of the Year was Dakota Becker-Greene. View more photos and read more stories like this on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook. 

VCOM-Auburn Student Awarded J.W. Darden Scholarship

Photo: VCOM-Auburn student James Pollock, III, OMS III, was awarded a J.W. Darden Foundation Scholarship. Pollock is pictured with VCOM-Auburn Pediatrics Chair Katie Wolter, MD.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn)'s James Pollock, III, OMS III, was one of four students awarded with a scholarship by the J.W. Darden Foundation. Named after Opelika, Alabama’s first black physician, Dr. J.W. Darden, the foundation carries on his legacy through the Darden Wellness Center, which provides free health screenings and access to other medical resources. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

VCOM-Louisiana ACOP Members Participate in Doctor Day at Elementary School

Photo: VCOM-Louisiana students teach elementary school children about being a doctor.

Members of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) student chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP) hosted Doctor Day at a local elementary school. Medical students set up various stations consisting of bone boxes, heart/lung models made out of brown paper bags, "How to Stay Healthy" poster boards and various other medical tools. VCOM-Louisiana students also educated the elementary students about what it means to be a doctor, and each station provided coloring sheets for the elementary students to take home with them. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.

Diversity Diplomats from PCOM Georgia Were Invited to Visit a Local Middle School for Second Annual STEM Presentation

Caption: PCOM Georgia medical students shared their passion for medicine with young STEM students.

Diversity Diplomats from PCOM Georgia recently visited Hull Middle School for their second annual STEM presentation with the school’s 7th-grade students. The health professional students covered topics such as diabetes, hemophilia and sickle cell anemia, and led the middle schoolers through the conditions' descriptions, signs and symptoms, complications and treatment options. View more photos from the event on PCOM Georgia’s Facebook.